Helms, Ramirez lead Marlins past Reds

Helms collected four hits and drove in two runs, Ramirez homered
twice and rookie Anibal Sanchez picked up his 10th victory as
the Marlins posted a 7-2 victory over the Reds.

One night after being eliminated from postseason contention,
Florida snapped a four-game losing streak and moved Cincinnati
(78-80) 3 1/2 games behind St. Louis in the National League
Central Division race with four to play.

"We're lucky to be in the situation where we are," said Reds
third baseman Rich Aurilia, who had three hits. "We were
written off two weeks ago. It seems like opportunities are
being handed to you and you need to take advantage of it.
Tonight, we didn't."

Batting .387 (46-for-119) since the All-Star break, Helms
delivered an RBI double in a three-run first inning and added a
run-scoring single in the fifth to give the Marlins a 4-2 lead.

"He has had a wonderful year," Florida manager Joe Girardi said.
"Wes has proven that he can play. He has done it before, but
he has opened a lot of eyes."

Helms led off the seventh with a triple down the right field
line and scored when Brandon Phillips' throw hit third base
umpire Mike Everitt in the foot and rolled away from the bag.

Ramirez opened the scoring with a solo blast to center - his
16th - against Chris Michalak, which tied Nomar Garciaparra's
major league rookie record with seven leadoff homers, set in
1997. He added an inside-the-park home run in the eighth.

"You don't think about homers," Ramirez said. "You just think
about getting on base. But when you see a good pitch, you try
to hit it hard somewhere."

Florida became the first major league team to have four rookies
record 10 victories in the same year, thanks to a five-inning
performance by Sanchez (10-3). The 22-year-old righthander
allowed two runs and six hits with two walks and four
strikeouts.

"That was not my best start, but this was my best win," Sanchez
said. "I just tried to do my same job like I have always done.
Today, I didn't have too much command of my pitches."

"It's hard to believe," Girardi said about the record.
"Obviously, Anibal had the fewest starts to do it (17), but the
guys rallied behind him, giving him some early runs. Anibal has
been a big pitcher for us all year."

Sanchez's win also gave the Marlins five 10-game winners for the
first time in franchise history, joining Dontrelle Willis (12),
Josh Johnson (12), Scott Olsen (12), and Ricky Nolasco (11).

"I think the future is bright," Girardi said. "Obviously,
health is always a big part of it and making adjustments in your
second year, not taking for granted what you have done."

Michalak (2-4) surrendered three runs and five hits in just
three frames, walking three and striking out one for the Reds,
who had a three-game winning streak ended.